Thursday, January 16, 2014

Report: government threatens to revoke registration of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

The government of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has
threatened to terminate the registration that allows the Ukrainian Greek
Catholic Church to operate legally in the Eastern European nation,
according to a report from the Religious Information Service of Ukraine.

The ministry of culture cited “systematic disregard for the law by some
priests” at the anti-government Euromaidan protests that began in
November.

Although the Church does not take part in political events, it “cannot
stay apart when faithful ask for spiritual care,” said Major Archbishop
Sviatoslav Shevchuk, who leads the church, which is the largest of the
Eastern Catholic churches.

“Our Church has always been true and will remain so for the future
mission that Christ the Savior entrusted, despite all the threats,” he
added.

“We thought that the time of repression has passed, but letters
like these give doubts. We are not ashamed of our presence on the Maidan
and will remain there.”